Chapter Eight
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
AND THE VALLEY OF JOSAPHAT
T O CLIMB THE MOUNT OF OLIVES one must go down into the valley of Josaphat, so that in contemplating the richness of divine mercy you may not forget the fear of judgment. If in the abundance of his mercy he is always inclined to forgive,1 his judgments are nonetheless exceedingly deep2 and acknowledged to be utterly terrifying to the sons of men.3 David it is who shows us the Mount of Olives, saying, You rescue both man and beast, O Lord, in the generous outpouring of your mercy.'4
He refers in the same psalm to the valley of judgment, saying, Let not the foot ofpride approach me, nor let the hands of sinners shake me.5 He even admits his dread of sharing their lot, when, in another psalm, he says in prayer, Pierce my flesh with your fear; indeed I am afraid of your judgments.6
Into this valley the proud stumble and are crushed; the humble descend and suffer little harm. The proud man excuses his sin, but the humble man accuses himself, knowing that God will not judge him a second time,7 and that if we judge ourselves we shall assuredly escape judgment.8
Is 55:7.
Ps 35:7.
Ps 65:5.
Ps 35:7-8.
Ps 35:12.
Ps 118:120.
Nahum 1:9 (LXX).
1 Cor 11:31.
In Praise of the New Knighthood 15. Furthermore, the proud man, paying no attention to how terrible it is to fall into the hands of the living God,9 facilely breaks into excuses for his sins with words of malice.10 It is indeed great malice not to have mercy on yourself and to reject the sole remedy of confessing after sinning. Instead of shaking off burning coals, you clasp them to your bosom,11 and refuse to heed the advice of the Wise Man who said, Please God by having mercy on your own soul.12 Besides, if someone does harm to himself, to whom will he do good?13 Now the world is being judged, now the prince of this world is cast forth,14 cast him forth from your heart, that is, if you judge yourself by humbling yourself. The judgment of heaven will take place when He calls the heavens from above, and the earth, too, that He may separate out his people.15 Being cast out with the devil and his angels,16 if you are found as yet unjudged—this is something to be afraid of.
On the other hand, the spiritual man who judges all things is himself judged by no one.17 This is why judgment begins at the house of God,18 so that at his coming the Judge shall discover that his followers, whom he recognizes,19 have already been judged.
And then he will have nothing further to judge against them when he comes to judge those who labor not as common men and suffer not from the common scourges.20
Heb 10:31.
Ps 140:4.
Prov 6:27.
Sir 30:24.
13 Sir 14:5.
14 Jn 12:31.
Ps 49:4.
16 Mt 25:41.
1 Cor 2:15.
1 Pet 4:17.
19 Jn 10:14; 13:18.
Ps 72:5.